Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[RED-DOG]

Funnily enough Alex, Barcelona has never been on my want to see list. I thought it was all muggers and maniacs on mopeds.

Then you and your readers started to wax lyrical about it and now I want to go.

[kinboshi]

Tom, was just out for a run that takes in a lake near me. It's a man-made lake that used to be a quarry. Anyway, I see all sorts of birds on and around the lake including geese, swans, herons, ducks, coots, moorhens, gulls, etc. All the usual suspects.

But today a couple of birds caught my eye, and as I got closer to them my initial suspicions were confirmed. They were Oystercatchers. Don't think I've ever seen them this far inland, and certainly not at this lake. Do they migrate, and I wonder what brought them to the lake (other than their wings)?  There's no wetland around the lake which would provide a feeding ground for them so can't imagine they'd hang around long.

[kinboshi]

Apparently it's not that rare to see them inland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oystercatcher

[Rod Paradise]

Aye, oystercatchers nest up round here (in the uplands of Scotland) regularly Kin. Lovely birds with a distinctive peep call. Big tasty eggs for a weeish bird (from my bad youth as a birdnester). Well camouflaged on stony river banks usually, although there's a pair nests on a factory roof nearby & fight off the gulls - almost a full time job.

My favourites among the inland waders are the Curlew (called a whaup here for it's call) which has the best camouflaged eggs, and the woodcock - which you never see till it whizzes out the trees near you.
Oystercatchers nest:

Click to see full-size image.

Curlew nest:

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

Apparently it's not that rare to see them inland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oystercatcher

Great spot though Boshi!

The fact that it's there is only part of the story, actually noticing it is the real trick.

[kinboshi]

To be fair though, their long, bright orange beaks are as obvious as a 4-bet pre-flop by me is aces or kings.

[kinboshi]

Rod, because of the nature of the lake, do you think it unlikely that the Oystercatchers are 'locals'?

[RED-DOG]

To be fair though, their long, bright orange beaks are as obvious as a 4-bet pre-flop by me is aces or kings.

You would be astonished by the number of 'obvious' things people don't notice.

Noticing things isn't a natural skill, you have to practice. Rod is a past master.

[kinboshi]

There have been lots of programmes on recently about insects, no idea why. Anyway, just watched one I recorded last week about insects as a food source.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/9938634/Can-Eating-Insects-Save-the-World-BBC-Four-review.html

This review is a little harsh I feel, but the programme itself was interesting and quite thought-provoking.

[RED-DOG]

There have been lots of programmes on recently about insects, no idea why. Anyway, just watched one I recorded last week about insects as a food source.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/9938634/Can-Eating-Insects-Save-the-World-BBC-Four-review.html

This review is a little harsh I feel, but the programme itself was interesting and quite thought-provoking.

Insects are fascinating. Have a look at the insects wiki page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect

Insects (from Latin insectum,  "cut into sections"

http://science.discovery.com/creatures/10-weird-bug-facts.htm

[Rod Paradise]

Rod, because of the nature of the lake, do you think it unlikely that the Oystercatchers are 'locals'?

I'd expect they were passing through. From what I've seen they feed on tidal flats by the sea, and farmland/moorland inland. They've not got long legs so an ex quarry (which usually have steep sides and deep waters) doesn't seem their type of area, but if there's some kind of shingle/rough ground for nesting and enough open land with insect life they'd live around it no problem. Laughing at you noticing the beak - I'd have said the black and white plumage was the first thing that'd catch my eye.


I see them most up the hill pass from me, on boggy sheep grazing moorland. I have only seen them back the last week or so, although with the wintry snap we're in I reckon they'd prefer to be further south. Also after posting about curlews, I saw 2 flying over this afternoon while walking the dog, first of the 'spring', it's their cry that makes me feel like I'm in the hills....

[kinboshi]

Yeah, but there are lots of gulls with similar plumage, although it was the black on the wings that caught my eye. Thought it was a juvenile something or other at first.

[Rod Paradise]

Yeah, but there are lots of gulls with similar plumage, although it was the black on the wings that caught my eye. Thought it was a juvenile something or other at first.

Definitely passing through. They will attack any gulls that get near their nesting site. Strident peeping calls and direct attacks with the long beaks - although I never saw one connect.

THey will also sometimes play injured hoping to draw the gulls away.

[kinboshi]

Nah, that was me looking tired and injured.

[RED-DOG]

Last night at DTD when the first cash table opened, I was faced with the usual dilemma. Sit at one end under the speaker, or the other end under the air con.

I chose the air con. It was a bad choice. One side if my body was freezing. My left leg especially.

I suggest that it might be beneficial if one of the valets were to sit on my knee for a while, to help keep my leg warm. Someone asked which valet I would choose, and before I could answer,  the debate kind of ran away from me.

It was decided that I wouldn't care who sat on my knee, valet or otherwise,  so long as she had a pulse.

It was then decided that It wouldn't have to be a she, and that I wouldn't care about pulse, looks, age, or gender.

"He probably wouldn't even be bothered too much about species." the dealer added,  between guffaws.

Everyone seemed to think the whole conversation was hilarious.

Well, almost everyone.